Non-contact actuated trigger apparatus for bar code laser scanner

ABSTRACT

The system, which is especially suitable for use a a bar code scanner trigger which allows for hands-free scanner operation and non-contact triggering of the scanner by the operator, in one embodiment, comprises a switch and a switch actuator, with the switch mounted proximate to a movable part of the body, and the switch actuator located on the movable part of the body, which part is movable so as to move the switch actuator and switch to within a predetermined proximity of one another and thereby actuate the switch, which will actuate the electronic equipment switched thereby. After the switch has been actuated, moving the part of the body with the switch actuator thereon so as to move the switch actuator and switch beyond a predetermined proximity of one another will deactuate the switch, and thereby deactivate the electronic equipment switched thereby. In an exemplary embodiment, the switch actuator is disposed upon a finger via a switch actuator mount in the form of a glove, and the switch is disposed upon the back of the hand at a point proximate to the finger so that extending a finger as in a pointing motion actuates the switch, thereby activating the equipment and further so that retracting the finger deactuates the switch. In other embodiments multiple switches and switch actuators may be used in conjunction with multiple fingers or digits, and/or with predetermined patterns or combinations of switch actuations required to activate the electronic equipment.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/056,887,filed Apr. 2, 1993, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of bar code laser scanner triggerswitches and is specifically a non-contact actuated proximity switchingsystem for activating electronic equipment such as a bar code laserscanner which is hand-held or hand-mounted. The system, in oneembodiment, comprises a switch and a switch actuator, with the switchmounted proximate to a movable part of the body, and the switch actuatorlocated on the movable part of the body, which part is movable so as tomove the switch actuator and switch to within a predetermined proximityof one another and thereby actuate the switch, which will activate theelectronic equipment switched thereby. After the switch has beenactuated, moving the part of the body with the switch actuator thereonso as to move the switch actuator and switch beyond a predeterminedproximity of one another will deactuate the switch, and therebydeactivate the electronic equipment switched thereby. In an exemplaryembodiment, the switch actuator is disposed upon a finger via a switchactuator mount in the form of a glove, and the switch is disposed uponthe back of the hand at a point proximate to the finger so thatextending a finger as in a pointing motion actuates the switch, therebyactivating the equipment and further so that retracting the fingerdeactuates the switch. In other embodiments multiple switches and switchactuators may be used in conjunction with multiple fingers or digits,and/or with predetermined patterns or combinations of switch actuationsrequired to activate the electronic equipment.

BACKGROUND

Operating electronic hardware typically requires some sort of manualcontact with a switch or other actuation means. For portable hardware,it is desirable to provide a switch which may be operated by a slightarticulation of the hand, so that the hand remains largely free forother tasks, such as grasping objects, etc. It is also desirable toprovide a switch which prevents operator fatigue by requiring verylittle force to actuate. Such use of portable hardware involves the useof a laser bar code scanner in a warehouse, when an operator of ascanner may wish to carry or wear a portable scanner.

One approach has been to mount the switch and switch actuator near, butnot actually on, the hand or fingers, and actuate the switch by directpressure from the fingers. This first approach may be thought of as an"off-hand" approach; it typically uses a "button" switch with a switchactuator in the form of a `button cap` and with a switch actuator suchas an extension lever sometime connected thereto. Since the "off-hand"switch is not actually on the hand or fingers, it does not requirecumbersome wiring about the fingers. However, the system of the off-handapproach is susceptible to inadvertent actuation; to prevent this it isnecessary to mechanically bias the switch so that actuation requiresdeliberate exertion. Actuating (e.g., pressing) the button may bedifficult; repeatedly actuating such a switch may lead to operatorfatigue.

Another common approach been to locate the switch and switch actuator,not merely near the hand or fingers, but actually upon the hand orfingers, along with the switch actuator, if any, also mounted thereupon.This approach may be termed an "on-hand" approach. Such a switch istypically actuated via certain hand movements which move the switchactuator and thereby actuate the switch. While this `on-hand` approachallows easy mounting of the switch, e.g. on a ring or glove, theseswitches are difficult to remove due to wiring connected to the fingersand hand, and are difficult to use without unintentionally actuating theswitch via ordinary hand movements of normal hand use.

The present invention features a new approach, which may be thought ofas a hybrid between the on-hand and off-hand approaches, is taken by thesystem according to the present invention, in which the switch islocated near, but not on, the movable extremity (e.g. the hand) whilethe switch actuator is located, not merely near, but on, the movableextremity (e.g. hand). This provides all the advantages associated withboth on-hand and off-hand systems, but does not provide any of thedisadvantages of either on-hand or off-hand systems. The systemaccording to the present invention provides a way of locating the switchnear the hand, thereby avoiding the need for cabling to the hand, whileproviding wireless switch actuator on the hand, thereby eliminating thedisadvantages associated with hand mounted switches, such as removaldifficulty and unintentional switching by ordinary hand movements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Many patents, including some very old, disclose hand-mounted switches.Some of the simplest patents disclose a glove in which electricalcontacts mounted on the thumb and forefinger are brought into contact tocomplete a circuit energizing a lamp worn on the hand. This approach maybe thought of as having a hand-mounted switch in its barest form, notenclosed by a switch actuator. Typical patents in this area include U.S.Pat. No. 1,165,970, issued to Harris in 1915, and U.S. Pat. No.1,402,609, issued to Houdous in 1922. In addition to the above-mentioneddisadvantages of on-hand mounting, this approach has the shock and firehazard of exposed electrically energized contacts. Heidemann U.S. Pat.No. 1,173,269, discloses a thumb-depressible push buttons mounted on aglove with a wire extending therethrough and therefrom.

The disadvantages of on-hand mounting are present in approaches whichmount both switch and a switch actuator on the finger, as in U.S. Pat.No. 5,045,650 issued to Suzuki. While the switch actuator here mayreduce the force needed to actuate the switch, a device according toSuzuki would still be susceptible to unintentional actuation throughordinary use of the hand.

A modern example of switches for hand-held bar code scanner switches isWike's U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,610 in which " a! ring member comprising anon/off switch is mounted on the forefinger of the hand of the operatorand operated by the thumb enabling the reader . . . " (Col. 1, lines48-53) Wike suffers from the disadvantages of hand-mounted switches, asdiscussed above. Similar to Wike is O'Brien U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,625,which shows a forefinger-mounted switch used to power a painting system.Note that in O'Brien a wire need not go directly about the finger;however as the actuator is secured to the switch and must remain incontact therewith, O'Brien's actuator suffers from the above-discusseddisadvantages; furthermore it is in physical contact with the switch.Both Wike and O'Brien suffer from the disadvantages of hand-mountedswitches, as discussed above.

Another example of a bar code switch is Tierney's U.S. Pat. No.4,766,299, disclosing a tension-detecting strap disposed about the handand intended as a switch responsive to a "deliberate flexure of musclesin the hand" such as fist clenching or finger-pointing (Col. 1, lines50-60). Though somewhat of a departure from other hand-mounted switches,Tierney's device suffers from the same disadvantages of the otherhand-mounted switches, namely, susceptibility to unintentional switchingand having cumbersome wiring. Moreover, this approach is operable onlyas a toggle switch, i.e., making a gesture turns the laser on, and "thelaser may be turned off by repeating the same gesture." (Col. 2, lines45-55) Between `gestures` Tierney's laser remains in the same state.This is quite unlike the present invention, which as will be seen,requires making and maintaining gestures in order to initiate andmaintain an activated state.

Yet another prior art attempt to solve this problem, similar to thatused in Newton's U.S. Pat. No. 1,197,652, is the "GLADIATOR"manufactured by Symbol Technologies, Inc., of Bohemia, N.Y. TheGladiator is an arm-mounted unit having switches with switch actuators(buttons) shaped to receive the top of the fingers. The Gladiator isactivated by straightening the fingers so that the fingers' top mayactuate a switch located on the underside of the unit. The GLADIATOR isseen to have the disadvantages of "off-hand" switches--difficult motionsare required to actuate it, this will lead to operator fatigue,especially if the actuators are mechanically biased to resist accidentalactuation. This approach is as unwieldy as it is old; it is noted thatthis approach is, issued on a hand signaling device.

A switch for a bar-code trigger is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,197 (the'197), issued to Metlitsky, et. al. In '197, both switch and switchactuator are located off the hand, thereby apparently leaving the handwithout cabling thereon or thereto, and while leaving the hand free foruse. In one embodiment, the actuator is an outwardly projecting leverwhich may be actuated by the thumb; in another embodiment, the actuatoris a hinge-like lever mounted near the wrist which is actuated by movingthe hand at the wrist. This off-hand approach suffers the disadvantagescommon to the off-hand approach. In addition, its actuator issusceptible to false triggering by ordinary hand movements.

It is a feature of the present invention to obviate a number ofdisadvantages of the above-disclosed devices, including: requiringexcessive pressure to operate; having moving parts; being electricallyunsafe; requiring awkward cabling about the hand and/or fingers; beingsusceptible to unintentional actuation by ordinary hand movements orthrough contact with other surfaces or objects.

For further background, reference may be made to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 756,636, filed Sep. 9, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,372, issuedMay 18, 1993 for a finger actuated bar code scanning system & translatorterminal which uses a glove worn by the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of one embodiment of the apparatus usedaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A & 2B depict side views of the embodiment of the apparatus shownin FIG. 1 in different operating positions.

FIG. 3 depicts the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 & 2 used to scan a target.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the instant invention having a pluralityof switches and switch actuators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a switch actuator 100 is mounted upon a movableextremity, the index finger 105, by an adhesive, or may be integratedinto a glove 190 as by sewing. Switch actuator 100 has no wiresconnected thereto and may be a magnet. It will be seen that there is noelectrical contact between the switch actuator 100 and a switch 180which is actuated thereby; there need not be any physical contactbetween them as well as no electrical contact.

Switch actuator 100 is mounted so as to be available for actuation ofswitch 180. Switch 180 is effectively a proximity switch, which isactuated whenever switch actuator 100 and switch 180 are brought towithin a predetermined proximity relative to one another. When switch180 and switch actuator 100 are brought to a point outside apredetermined proximity relative to one another, the switch 180 isdeactuated. Switch 180 detects the proximity of switch actuator 100.When switch actuator 100 is a magnet, switch 180 is typically amagnetically-operated switch, such as a reed or Hall-effect switch. Theswitch 180 is electrically connected to the electronic equipment 160 tobe activated, and may also be physically connected thereto; in theillustrated embodiment, the switch 180 is mounted upon a printed circuitboard of the equipment 160. Alternatively the switch 160 may be mountedupon any structure in the interior of a case containing the equipment160, or upon the case itself. The proximity distance between theactuator and the switch for switch actuation may be determined by thestrength of the magnetic field and/or the sensitivity of the Hall effectsensor or the reed switch.

The electronic equipment 160, which contains switch 180, is mountedentirely on the back of the glove 190, for example by a hook-and-loopfastener patch 120 with locking halves which are affixed to glove 190 at120, and to electronic equipment 160, so as to permit easily anddetachably mounting the electronic equipment 160 on the glove 190.

Operation of the system of the present invention is better understood byreference to FIGS. 2A & 2B. In a normal, resting, non-actuated state,illustrated in FIG. 2B, the operator's fingers 105 are relaxed, beingslightly curled, and the switch 180 and the switch actuator 100 arespaced apart a distance Delta-P-2, which is greater than the distance ofthe proximity required for actuation.

To actuate the switch, the operator merely straightens out his finger105, moving it into the position of FIG. 2A, in which switch actuator100 and switch 180 are apart by only a distance Delta-P-1, which iswithin the proximity required for actuation. Thus, Switch 180 isactuated, and the electronic equipment 160, which may comprise LED 200,will be activated. To deactuate the switch, the operator merely relaxeshis hand such that the finger 105 again curls slightly, moving theswitch actuator 100 and switch 180 apart, beyond the proximity requiredfor actuation.

Although a finger 105 is shown as an example, it is noted that accordingto the system of the present invention switch actuator 100 could bepositioned at another place, e.g. upon the operator's lapel, etc. andthat electronic equipment 160 could also be positioned in yet anotherplace with actuation of the switch 180 still provided in the same way byswitch actuator 100. An other example of alternative placement (notshown for clarity), the switch 180 could be located on the hip, and theswitch actuator 100 on the wrist.

In the most common applications, a single actuation of a single switchwith a single actuator will activate the electronic equipment. For otherapplications, a more complex pattern or repetition of actuations couldbe required to actuate the equipment. For example, two repeatedactuations might be required in a short time-frame, as when"double-clicking" a computer mouse button. For still other applications,a plurality of switches 180 and corresponding switch actuators 100 couldaccording to the present invention be disposed on various digits (seeFIG. 4) and configured such that they must be actuated in a certainfashion in order to activate the electronic equipment. For example, aparticular system might require an actuation of one switch followed byan actuation of another switch, followed by repeated actuation of yetanother switch, before the electronic equipment were activated. Quitesimilarly, such "actuation combinations" could be employed to initiatevarious functions within the electronic equipment, rather than merelyactivating and deactivating it.

FIG. 3 depicts an operator using the system according to the presentinvention to activate a hand-mounted laser bar code scanner which is theequipment 160 and use it to scan a target 410. Note that the operator'sfingers 105 are extended so that switch actuator 100 and switch 180 arewithin the proximity required for switch actuation; thus, switch 180 isactuated and electronic equipment 160, in this case a laser scanner, isactivated. By pointing at a bar code target 410, the operator willdirect scanning laser beams 400 across the target 410.

Variations and modifications within the scope of the invention willundoubtedly become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,the foregoing description should be taken as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:
 1. A system for activating a bar code scanner, said systemcomprising:a switch, electrically connected to said bar code scanner,for activating said bar code scanner when actuated; and a switchactuator; said switch being actuated and said bar code scanner beingactivated to begin bar code scanning when said switch and said switchactuator are brought within a predetermined proximity to each otherwithout making relative contact; wherein said switch and said switchactuator are both attached to a human body.
 2. The system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said switch actuator comprises a magnet and wherein saidswitch is actuated by a magnetic field from said magnet.
 3. The systemas claimed in claim 2 wherein said switch actuator is disposed upon anextremity of the human body by means of a switch actuator mount.
 4. Thesystem as claimed in claim 3 wherein said switch actuator is disposedupon a hand.
 5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said switchactuator is disposed on at least one digit of a finger of the hand. 6.The system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a glove worn on thehand an having receptacles for fingers for carrying said switch and saidswitch actuator.
 7. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprisingmeans for integrally mounting said switch with said bar code scanner. 8.The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch is disposed upon anextremity of the human body.
 9. The system as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid switch is disposed upon the hand, said hand being said extremity.10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch actuator iscarried on a digit of a finger and said switch actuator and said switchare brought within said predetermined proximity to each other by movingthe digit upon which said actuator is carried.
 11. The system as claimedin claim 10 wherein said switch is deactuated upon moving said switchactuator and said switch out of said predetermined proximity to eachother by moving the digit upon which said switch actuator is disposed.12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch is deactuatedupon moving said switch actuator and said switch out of saidpredetermined proximity to each other, thereby deactivating said barcode scanner.
 13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said switchactuator is disposed upon a glove having a switch actuator mount, andwherein said bar code scanner is connected on a back side of a hand andspaced a sufficient distance to position said switch and said switchactuator outside said predetermined proximity to each other, but closeenough so that they may easily be brought within said predeterminedproximity to each other by flexing a portion of said hand.
 14. Thesystem as claimed in claim 13 wherein said switch actuator mountcomprises a part of said bar code scanner and has interlocking halves ofa hook-and-loop fastener, one of said halves of said hook-and-loopfastener being affixed to said bar code scanner and the other to saidglove on the portion thereof which receives the back side of said handto permit easy and detachable mounting on said glove.
 15. The system asclaimed in claim 14 wherein said switch actuator is a magnetic fieldgenerator.
 16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said switch isselected from the group consisting of a magnetic reed switch and aHall-effect switch.
 17. A system for activating electronic equipment,said system comprising:at least one switch; at least one switchactuator; and a glove having receptacles for fingers for carrying saidswitch and said switch actuator, said switch disposed on a back side ofsaid glove and said switch actuator disposed on one of said fingers;said switch being actuated when said switch and said switch actuator arebrought within a predetermined proximity to each other without makingrelative contact.
 18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein saidswitch is deactuated when said switch and said switch actuator are movedout of said predeterined proximity to each other.
 19. The system asclaimed in claim 17, wherein said equipment is activated after a singleactuation.
 20. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said equipmentis activated after a predetermined number of actuations within apredetermined time.
 21. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein saidglove carries more than one said switch and more than one said switchactuator and wherein said equipment is activated after a predeterminedcombination of actuations among said switches.
 22. A system foractivating various functions of electronic equipment, said systemcomprising:at least one switch; at least one switch actuator; and aglove having receptacles for fingers for carrying said switch and saidswitch actuator, said switch disposed on a back side of said glove andsaid switch actuator disposed on one of said fingers; said switch beingactuated when said switch and said switch actuator are brought within apredetermined proximity to each other without making relative contact.23. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said switch is deactuatedwhen said switch and said switch actuator are moved out of saidpredeterined proximity to each other.
 24. The system as claimed in claim22, wherein said activation of each of various functions of saidequipment corresponds to a predetermined number of actuations within apredetermined time.
 25. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein saidglove carries more than one said switch and more than one said switchactuator and wherein said activation of each of various functions ofsaid equipment corresponds to a predetermined combination of actuationsamong said switches.